CRANE 255 



figures as the form into which a queen and her handmaid were 

 turned, viz. : — 



" ' Thou hast leave to be a crane ' (heron), 

 Said the cleric furiously — 

 'As just punishment to thy handmaid 

 She'll be a crane along with thee. ' 

 Aedh's wife and her waiting maid 

 They live still and make complaint — 

 The two old herons of Drum Ceta. " 



Cranes are not numerous in the Highlands, though often 

 referred to in old writings, from the Holy Scriptures downwards. 

 It is — or was — considered a favourite "tit-bit" by gastronomic 

 epicures. 



The following is a rhyme, port-beoil or mouth chant, to which 

 iider midta alia Highlanders, in the absence of pipes, etc., danced 

 in the days of yore. 



" Fhuair mi nead na corra-dhubh 

 Ann an cull na moine 



(Repeat twice — spiritedly) 

 Agus nead na fithich 

 An cridhe nead na smeoraich." 



The above is sung to a tune to which " Cawdor Fair " is similar. 



In reference to above, a still more primitive substitute, which 

 was resorted to by our cheery dance-loving forefathers and mothers, 

 was an indifferent form of " cainntireachd," vulgarly termed in the 

 Lowlands "doodling." To those who, like them, had so acute an 

 ear for music, little sufficed to set and keep them going. 



The term "corracha-margaidh " is said to mean what is now 

 known as "jailbird," i.e., market herons, birds, or people which 

 or who haunt markets or places where they are likely to pick up 

 something, or find employment. A tale comes from our Irish 

 brother Celts of a lonely crane that was reputed to be "one of 

 the wonders." This bird has lived on the island of Inis-Kea, 

 Co. Mayo, since the beginning of the world, and will live there till 

 the day of judgment. Further accounts state this bird to be an 

 enchanted human being, doing penance. 



Cameron gives "Crob " or " crobh-preachain " as the Gaelic for 

 the cranebill, the claw of any ravenous or rapacious bird. The 

 bitter vetch in Gaelic is " Cairmeal," from "corr" or "corra," a 

 crane, and "meilg," a pod, meaning the crane's pod or pea. In 

 Welsh, Pys y garanod, crane's peas, "garan," a crane. 



Of a very deaf person it is said, "Cha chluinn e glaodhaich 

 nan corr " — He can't hear the cranes cry. Another proverb is — 



" Ghoideadh e 'n t-ubh bho 'n chorr, 's a chorr fliein 'na 

 dheireadh." 



He would steal the egg from the crane, and the crane 

 herself at his heels. A proof of extra sharpness. 



We have also another proverb or saying exemplifying patience, 



